Hyundai Elite i20 : Official Review

This is a discussion on Hyundai Elite i20 : Official Review within Official New Car Reviews, part of the Team-BHP Reviews category; Originally Posted by aviraj
The updated i20's dashboard looks better than the Creta's. Hyundai is doing great in the styling ...

The updated i20's dashboard looks better than the Creta's. Hyundai is doing great in the styling department and feature set has always been a strong point. Variant distribution has always been baffling. Car makers simply need to offer the AT as an option on any of the variants. An AT specific variant which misses on the top features simply doesn't make sense

This is the case with many cars in India. Look at Jazz, baleno, Figo etc. They are afraid of advertising a very high price tag for top variant. In my opinion, that's really some bad input from marketing or psychology guys. Most of us who look for Automatics definitely want the top variant, we don't have a choice.
Even though I was interested in AT, i had to go for a manual car since Polo GT was the only car which was not afraid to go against this price logic. Even though indian car industry is very price sensitive, manufacturers should realize that most of the customers who want AT are not the average indian buyer (please don't misunderstand the usage of 'average' here... I mean to say, these buyers may not mind spending extra money to get a fully loaded AT)

They are afraid of advertising a very high price tag for top variant. In my opinion, that's really some bad input from marketing or psychology guys. Most of us who look for Automatics definitely want the top variant, we don't have a choice.

Maybe there is a way past it. AT can be advertised an an Options pack, so the buyer has the choice to order it with any variant, and since the sticker price is without options, the top variant will not cause sticker price shock.

I think the OEMs are trying to avoid too many permutations and combinations of models to produce, and therefore offer the AT only in specific variants identified by their (ill-informed?) market research.

The humble rear wiper is now available only on the Asta (O)? What on earth, Hyundai? Ridiculous, this!
Its not some sophisticated ultra high tech feature for them to offer only in the top variant. Its basic necessity when it rains!

The humble rear wiper is now available only on the Asta (O)? What on earth, Hyundai? Ridiculous, this!
Its not some sophisticated ultra high tech feature for them to offer only in the top variant. Its basic necessity when it rains!

If the brochure is accurate, steering tilt adjustment has been moved to the Asta and Asta(O). Beat that!
A matter of time before sliding front seats become a 'premium feature' on Hyundais.

Moves like these will ensure that the I20 sales will dip even further. Inspite of commanding a premium over the Baleno, the I20 has had a few advantages to its name like-

1. 'Ample' number of features in Sportz variant and above.

2. Premium interiors when compared to the Baleno.

While the point number 2 still holds true, point number 1 has been completely nullified with this move. A value seeking customer will choose the cheaper Baleno Delta over the I20 Sportz and will still have more features in his car. Exra cash in the account being an icing on the cake.
He can even get the Baleno Zeta for the same cash as the I20 Sportz. He will have a much better equipped car which will look as premium as the I20 owing to these extra features.

There have been a lot of talks about Hyundai becoming more and more European in their approach. And this move is just a testament to my previous statement. Just like VW, their products have better build quality, however, all the goodies are reserved for the top end. So if you can't afford the top end, you can either buy a variant with poor level of equipment and enjoy the premium build of the car, or you can bite the dust and settle for another car with higher equipment levels.

If removing ACC and the reverse camera from the Sportz variant was not bad enough, they have limited even the 'Tilt' adjustment of the steering to the Asta models.

Gents, without any warning or sign of failure my rear right power window switch has gone kaput. Pressing the switch gets the window down but the Up functionality has died completely. Have planned to take it to the ASS but could there be some loose contact issue? Has any one else faced this issue?

I faced the same problem around a month back. The left side rear window would go down and won't come up. The SA said the switch has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. He quoted a cost of around 800 bucks. I had previously given the car for body work and these guys had forgotten to put the clear coat on the newly painted bumper. They agreed to get the switch fixed under warranty after i insisted that i dis not like the way they supervised the service.

Insist on warranty for this. I can post a copy of the work order if they deny.

There are three i20 Asta variants available now - Asta, Asta Dual Tone & Asta(O).

Asta(O) is the top variant and only one with side & curtain airbags, and is pretty much the same as before. The only change is inclusion of Apple Carplay, Android Auto & Mirror Link functions to the touchscreen SAT-NAV system.

Elite i20 has officially taken a joint 1st position alongwith the prev-gen Honda City for being the cost-cutting champion when compared to the model/variant just before that.

These are the things the Elite i20 lacked even during launch when compared to the standard Hyundai models :
- Fixed roof handles and not foldable
- No complete illuminated window controls in all doors (shame)
- No speed sensing auto-lock across variants
- No split folding rear seats except for Asta maybe?

Now they are trying their best to position the "tweaked" 2017 model as a so called facelift and that lacks :
- Door protection moulding
- Tilt steering adjustment except for Asta and Asta (O)?
- Rear wiper (except for Asta O)
- And many more

Instead of the above features the company decided to give super practical features such as :
- New Marina blue shade
- Wrapped roof in black
- Wrapped A pillar in black
- Interiors lifted right out of i20 Active
- Touchscreen

Couple of months, just defer your purchase decision by two months if its the i20 you're going for, 60 days of seeing average sales of less than half (or hopefully, even less) will give Hyundai the shock of a lifetime. It was a great car, but it had to be made greater to compete in today's times, now its just a joke at best. Touchscreens and cheap stuck on vinyl be damned.

That looks really bad, Hyundai shouldn't have done it for their premium hatch. Especially since the stock 16" alloy wheels of i20 is one the best we have across segments. Also, wouldn't this weigh quite a lot? Being steel and having big holes to make it 'look good'?

Guys with 16" stock alloy wheels, be careful now.

The word is spreading on these 'stylish steel wheels' and this happened in Kerala yesterday.